Season Unending, The Children of Kyne, Vol. III Options

[Kane]

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Content warning: this story should be considered 18+. Sexual content is present, but never described, and I don't shy away from foul language (though it seems to be censored). There is also darker content further in regarding sexual assault.

Prologue
It could be said that Skyrim was a cold, harsh land, unforgiving to outsiders and barely tolerant of anyone but a true Nord. Fortunately, those times have passed, and the sun shines brightly upon a healing landscape. The scars of civil war and dragon crises fading to memory as a new High King and his court sought to pull the land up from the depths of a crumbling Empire. An Empire in name only, its once powerful alliance spanning the entirety of Tamriel, now relegated to Cyrodiil (or the Heartland, as the Nibenese and Colovian nobles preferred to call it), High Rock, and, of course, Skyrim.

But now Skyrim stood to rise above the rest, and usher in a new era for a floundering society that still scurried from the inevitable boot of the Aldmeri Dominion. Hope began to inflame the hearts of men, for the Dragonborn King was rumored to be setting his sights upon the Ruby Throne, and the weak Mede Dynasty that occupied it. From his palace in Solitude, forces were directed and diplomats dispatched as the pawns of war moved slowly but surely. The Dominion was forced out of Skyrim with an ultimatum, and the land was finally back under the full rule of the Nords, as it ought to be.

The year is Two Hundred Twenty-nine of the Fourth Era, and the gears of war have started to turn, as the land braces itself for the Second Great War that was always to come. It was also the year that a mid-level member of the Anvil chapter of the Fighter’s Guild was loaned to the storied Companions of Jorrvaskr, in the city of Whiterun. This talented young warrior of Redguard descent suddenly found himself sailing to a strange land and leaving behind the only home he ever knew. Little remained for him in Anvil after the passing of his mother, so he looked forward to a new chapter of his life, far from the painful memories of home.

The first mate, a stout Imperial named Janius, approached the young Redguard with a roll of parchment and a quill. “Name?”

“Cain. No surname.”

“No surname?” inquired the First Mate. “How can that be, young man? I have it here that you were born and raised in Anvil, and joined the Fighter’s Guild when you came of age. Your mother is listed as Ariessa Janeel, also of Anvil. Do you not share her name?”

“In the absence of my father, she did not bestow it upon me.”

“Bastard then, eh? Unfortunate, but I see it all the time. What is your business in Skyrim?”

“On loan to The Companions. For what reason I do not yet know, but I will follow my orders from the guild and my future employers.”

“An honorable attitude for a young warrior, mister Cain. It’s a long voyage to the port of Solitude, so all we ask is that you remain civil and pitch in a helping hand when required.”

Cain nodded and the first mate moved on to speak with a different passenger. It was indeed a long voyage, filled with many sleepless nights while the ship bobbed and rocked on the choppy waters of the sea. The occasional storm would blow in and everyone from the captain to the lowest deckhands were grim-faced and determined as they struggled to keep the passengers safe from the onslaught of high waves and powerful winds. Nearly a full month passed before they sailed beneath the great arch of Solitude and nestled the ship into the port. All hands helped to moor the ship before the passengers eagerly disembarked in a new land.

A tall Dunmer man of middle years stood in wait on the pier, clad in worn hide armors with a longsword slung across his back. Years of experience lined his weathered face, eyes deep set and wary as he scanned the faces off all those who set foot off of the ship. When Cain approached the man, he flagged the Redguard down and directed him off to the side.

“You must be Cain,” he said. “Fresh from Anvil, yes? My name is Athis and I’ve been sent by our Harbinger to retrieve you. The Companions welcome your aid, but we have a long journey to Whiterun yet. Ordinarily I would accompany you south on foot, but we are already short-handed and will be taking a carriage.”

“Nice to meet you, Athis. Lead the way �" this is a strange land for me and I defer to your judgement.”

They shook hands and departed the port at a quick trot. A carriage sat in wait along the road to the capital city, and soon after Athis handed the driver a bag of Septims, the were trundling along the road to Dragon Bridge, headed for the southern road to Whiterun Hold and Jorrvaskr �" the legendary mead hall of The Companions. Despite being in an unfamiliar land, Cain found himself excited at the prospect of these new horizons and the change of pace from the last few months of misery that followed the death of his mother. He bowed his in prayer for her before striking up a conversation with Athis.

“So, what’s it like being in The Companions?” he asked. “Are things much different from the Fighter’s Guild?”

“Oh yes, quite different. Every man or woman in The Companions is their own. We have no leaders, just a Harbinger who is wise in counsel and offers a guiding hand. There are no ranks to elevate to and no coveted positions to fight for. We take the jobs we must and your shield-siblings will be ready to stand with you. Honor is valued above all else.”

“Interesting. I must admit, the lack of politics seems hard to believe. Everything is so much about rank and station in the guild that often times our true purpose is forgotten when the infighting picks up. Jobs go unanswered in the chaos and brawls turn deadly over simple differences of opinion. I might end up staying here for a long time if life is to be more peaceful in that regard.”

Athis chuckled. “While we do strive to rise above such petty squabbles, you’ll soon find that Jorrvaskr is anything but peaceful. However, our brawls usually end with hearty pats on the back and consuming copious amounts of mead, rather than misery and death!”

“Sounds like a dream come true, Athis.”

“That’s a very Nordic attitude, young one. Are you sure you’re a Redguard?”

“The color of my skin betrays that,” laughed Cain. “But who knows, maybe my father was a Nord, whoever he may be.”

The Dunmer smiled and their conversation moved onto other topics. Athis went over the finer points of The Companions with him and eventually moved onto the current political climate and powers that be in Skyrim. Cain listened with rapt attention, absorbing all the he could to avoid any run-ins with local laws and to avoid misunderstandings, no matter how small they could be. Just as the sun began to set, the carriage pulled into a small village and ground to a halt. Orthar, the driver, dismounted and told them they would continue on in the morning. Cain and Athis hopped down from the wagon and followed him into the local tavern, the Frostfruit Inn.

“This is the village of Rorikstead,” said Athis. “A fine place to spend the night. Grab us some mead and I’ll see about getting a meal. No sense in sleeping on an empty stomach.”

He left the inn as Cain was ordering a few pints of mead and a loaf of bread to munch on. Experience had taught the young man never to consume spirits on an empty stomach, and so he found a table off to the side and chewed on the crusty loaf while he awaited Athis’ return. Ten minutes later, his fellow Companion reentered the tavern with a basket of fruit in one hand and a bundle of skewered meats in the other. They ate and drank their fill while continuing to discuss the ins and outs of Jorrvaskr well into the night.

Dawn brought forth cloudy skies and the smell of rain upon the air as the carriage rumbled off onto the road, resuming their journey to Whiterun. By late afternoon, the two men were approaching the gates of the tundra city, and making their way through the bustling marketplace. They passed the local tavern and ascended a flight of stairs whereupon Cain was greeted with a breathtaking sight �" the Gildegreen was in full bloom before his eyes and the immense beauty of the towering tree froze him in his tracks as the wind gently whistled through its branches.

“Aye, a sight to see, eh?” remarked Athis. “Little matches the serene beauty of our mighty tree, blessed by the Goddess Kyne herself. That’s her temple there and the priestess' maintain the tree and those who seek her guidance within.”

“It’s amazing,” sighed Cain. “There is nothing quite as lovely in all of Cyrodiil.”

“Yeah, well, the Imperials already think too highly of themselves. Divines know they don’t deserve such a wonderful symbol as our Gildegreen. Let’s move on now �" Jorrvaskr is just over there.”

Continuing on, Cain and Athis soon stepped through the solid wood doors of the legendary mead hall and were met with the raucous din of the main dining area where shield siblings dined heartily and drank merrily, roaring with laughter and swapping exaggerated stories of their noble deeds. Athis steered him through the hall and down a small flight of stairs to a much quieter living area, with bedrooms lining the underground corridor. The walls were adorned with centuries of decorations ranging from trophy kills to impressive weapons to woven tapestries and ancient, tattered flags. At the far end of the hall two men sat around a small table and were deep in conversation, only noticing their approach at the last minute.

The smaller of the two large men rose to greet them. “Athis, I see you’ve returned with our new shield-brother!” He turned to the Redguard and offered a hand for Cain to shake. “Cain, yes? Welcome to Jorrvaskr! I’m Vilkas, Harbinger of The Companions, and the silent one here is my brother Farkas. He may look intimidating but I promise he is more bark than bite!” Vilkas roared with laughter and sat back down as Farkas greeted Cain.

“Pleasure to meet you, brother,” rumbled the towering Nord. He sat back down and resumed his stony silence while Vilkas spoke again.

“No trouble, then, Athis?”

“None at all. The land seems quiet for a change.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that. But it’s getting late now �" you two head upstairs and eat. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow!”

Athis and Cain took their leave of the Harbinger, and his silent brother, and headed back to the dining hall for a good meal and plenty of mead. All in all, Cain was looking forward to being counted among the ranks of such proud, jovial warriors. Jorrvaskr was everything the Fighters Guild was not, and his mind was made up in short order �" tomorrow he would pen a letter to his chapter leader and tender his resignation. But the night was still relatively young, and after stowing what little gear he had under a vacant bed, Cain met Athis upstairs in the great hall.

They ate, drank, and sang well into the night as Cain made the rounds and was introduced to his shield-siblings. More than a few were young like him, and he could not help but eye up some of the female warriors among the ranks, especially Thea, a tall blonde Nord that shared the same birthyear as Cain. He lingered next to her the longest and was in awe at how much mead she could knock back with the rest of the burly men seated around Jorrvaskr. By midnight the two of them had slid out the back door and were getting to know each other better in the moonlit gardens.

The next day came earlier than Cain, still sleeping off the merriment and escapades from the night before, had expected it to. Farkas strode into his room just after sunrise and threw a dossier at him before barking out the Redguard’s first orders.

“Read that and then come find me in the mead hall. You’re heading to Falkreath today and we need to find you a shield-sibling to watch your back, and see what you can do. Don’t tarry, it’s a long walk to Falkreath and the sun is already up.”

Cain sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes before leaving his warm bed and heading for the bathroom. He checked himself in the mirror before leaving and sighed at the long scratches Thea had left on the side of his face. Farkas had likely noticed them, too, but it was probably nothing new to the seasoned Companion. He splashed some water on his faced, headed back to general quarters, got dressed, and went upstairs for his first assignment.

This post has been edited by Kane: May 6 2025, 01:14 PM

[Kane]

Chapter VII - Unforeseen Events

The esteemed members of the Elder Council were all circled around a massive conference table deep within the White-Gold Tower, grim faced but listening with rapt attention while the chancellor, Anilay, briefed them on the latest intelligence from operatives in Skyrim. Titus Mede II would be arriving shortly, but he had instructed his right hand to get things moving during his brief absence from the chamber.

“So, it is true, then,” asked one of the fat Imperials. “The rumbling echo we heard over the Jeralls came from the Greybeards again? For the second time in thirty years? I find that hard to believe, Anilay.”

“It’s already confirmed, Sentius,” said the chancellor. “There is no mistaking it �" another of the dragon blood has been revealed. Whether or not it’s in relation to the high king is not known at this time. Furthermore, we have no idea who this newcomer is, or where in Skyrim they might be.”

A loud bang marked the entrance of the Emperor, who flung the doors open wide and startled the councilors huddled around the expansive table. He walked purposefully towards the head of the table and took a seat in his small throne, gesturing the others to be seated as well.

“Ahem. I take it Anilay has begun the briefing? Very good. Now, I know we did not anticipate this happening again, but I’m pleased to report that an operative in Winterhold has learned the identity of this latest threat: a Redguard named Cain. I don’t know what machinations led him north to Skyrim, but he just slipped through our fingers. Apparently, he used to be a member of the Fighter’s Guild in Anvil, and only left the Heartland a few weeks ago.”

“What prompted his departure, my lord?” asked another councilman.

“That is unclear, but we are looking into it. He is now currently in the employ of the Companions in Whiterun, and we have men getting into position both there, and in Solitude. If all goes well, we will seize him before the high king’s people can do so, and persuade him to work with the Imperial Legion.”

“But will he be loyal to us, sire? It’s an awful risk to bring him here �" what if he feels a strong allegiance to the dragon blood? There is much about the pure-blooded Dragonborns we do not yet know…”

“In light of the circumstances, it’s a risk we must take to ensure the longevity of the Empire,” said Titus Mede II. “Skyrim cannot be allowed to amass so much power on their own. A single Dragonborn king is bad enough �" two would be unfathomable. That is all I have to say on the matter for now. Please return to your duties and we shall convene again when more is known.”

The various lords and ladies of the Elder Council filed out of the room while the Emperor remained seated, waiting to converse quietly with Anilay, his right hand in all matters. Once the room had otherwise emptied, they began to pore over classified documents and iron out just how they were going to secret the Redguard away, all the way back down to the Imperial City.

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Ulvon looked around the packed dining hall at the gathered council members and diplomats, hardly daring to believe that relations with Skyrim had progressed so quickly in the last five years. However, the absence of certain delegation members did not go unnoticed to the Arch-Master’s keen eyes, and he subtly flagged down his young aide. The young elf bobbed up to his side with an inquiring look.

“Tell me, Salis…were there not supposed to be two members of the king’s family in this delegation? I had looked forward to meeting such people, and hoped to catch a glimpse into his inner circle through such prominent figures.”

“Ah, yes,” answered Salis. “I asked about that when they arrived, while we recorded their information for our records. Apparently, recent events in Skyrim have forced the two missing members of the delegation to hasten back home.”

“Recent events? What could be so urgent?”

“Well, there are rumors that another Dragonborn has emerged. And we’ve also received reports of a dragon attack that resulted in another village being burned to the ground.”

“Hmm,” sighed Ulvon. “Those are both troubling events indeed. It’s been some years since the last dragon attack, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, sir. At least twenty years, I should think.”

“And another Dragonborn emerges from the shadows. Curious. The Elder Council must be feeling very squeamish right about now, with another legendary figure in the picture. Every day, the walls close further in upon their worthless hides.”

“Should we still start the conference without the missing delegates, sir?”

“We’ll leave that up to our guests, Salis. For now, grab a drink and mingle. After all, we are here tonight to forge new connections, not to worry ourselves with matters abroad.”

The young aide bowed his head and departed in search of the wait staff, and a stiff bulb of Sujamma.

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Anska and Athis stood motionless, mouth agape at the sight before their eyes. Cain rose from the ground, sword in hand, and sheathed it in the scabbard slung across his back. He stared at the skeletal remains of the dragon they had just slain, his thoughts in turmoil about what it all meant. Turning to his friends, they noted the faraway look in his eyes and rushed forward to see how he was doing.

“Are you alright, lad?” asked Athis. “That was one hell of a feat, but you don’t look very happy about what’s just happened to you…”

“Dragonborn,” Anska whispered. “I can’t believe it. And here I thought you couldn’t get any sexier after that battle with Vokun,” she laughed. “Never thought I’d see you climb atop a dragon and slay it so easily �" it’s like you were born for it! Oh, I guess you were, eh?”

Despite everything that happened, Cain felt himself smiling at Anska’s ability to inject some levity and disarm the situation. “Bet you wish you hadn’t turned down that date, huh? Anyway, I feel a little shaky, but fine otherwise. Apart from there being the life experiences of a dead dragon bouncing around my psyche, that is. Can we go back to camp now? I’m exhausted.”

“I bet you are,” said Athis. “I’ll lead this time, you two follow me.”

They walked in silence for a few minutes, until Cain couldn’t help but seek answers from Anska, hoping that his Nord friend would be able to share some insight. “This is a big deal, right? Isn’t the king a Dragonborn, too?”

“’Big deal’ is an understatement, Cain. He was supposed to be the last Dragonborn, according to the ancient prophecy. I’m afraid you’re in uncharted waters, and there is little I can offer you in the way of aid. My only advice would be to visit the Blue Palace or High Hrothgar, but I suspect you will be sought after before long no matter what. The entire land knows you are out here somewhere.”

“Keep it secret, Anska, I beg of you,” said Cain. “I feel like a fish out of water right now, and the fewer people that know, the better off I’ll be.”

“I won’t tell a soul,” she replied. “Hey, look at that…” She pointed a finger at a dark shape flying past in a hurry. “Am I crazy, or did that look like a raven? What would such a bird be doing up here on its own? The gulls normally drive off such beasts, and hoard the shorelines to themselves.”

“I think that was indeed a raven. Odd, but maybe it has something to do with the dragon? I swear I saw a hawk earlier, too, and wondered why it was so far from the inland forests.”

“Strange signs indeed, Cain. I’ll ask the wise woman when I get home. She may know something of what those signs could mean. I’ll write to you if she has any insight.”

Back at the campsite, Athis decided the feats they just pulled of were worthy of a hearyt dip into their supplies, and with Anska’s help he soon had a seasoned leg of goat cooking over a roaring campfire while they drank mead and celebrated their companion. Cain was unaccustomed to being lauded so highly, and spent the evening blushing and waving them off. But Athis and Anska were having none of it, and despite being tired, the trio drank and sang long into the night, their odes and toasts filling the coastline with an unnatural din.

But when dawn broke over them the next morning, the joyous feelings of the previous night were subdued. They packed their tents up in silence, regretful that the job was completed and that soon they would be going their separate ways: Anska returning to Stonehills, and the Companions would be crossing the inlet to Solitude where they hoped to grab a carriage ride home.

Cain in particular was feeling down as he hugged Anska goodbye, and watched her disappear into the mist. “I feel like a part of me went with her, Athis, and that I shall never get it back.”

Athis clapped him on the shoulder. “Aye, I think we all go through that at least once in our lives, mate. But the lass is right; you two live very far apart and will likely never see each other again. Now, come on �" she said there was a ferry near here. We might be able to hit the port by sundown, if we are lucky.” The dunmer’s prediction rang true, and the sun had just begun to set when the ferryman nudged the boat into the harbor and let them disembark.

“Did we go back in time, Athis?” asked Cain with a laugh. “Were we not here just a few weeks ago, eager to grab a carriage to Whiterun?”

“Makes the head spin, eh?” said Athis. “Let’s mix things up this time just for the hell of it. Wanna head into town for a drink? The Winking Skeever has a fine selection and we can grab some rooms for the night, too.”

“Works for me, Athis. My ass hurts from sitting in that boat all day anyway.”

And so, they left the port and marched right past the Solitude Stables, heading up the long hill into the city proper. Solitude was a huge city that far outpaced the small town of Whiterun, perched on its hill in the tundra. The capital of Skyrim expanded out over the inlet, towering far above the cold waters below, and it offered every service known to man, mer, or beast. But the streets were quieting down for the evening, vendor stalls closing, and shopkeepers locking up until the morning, when everything would start all over again. Cain and Athis followed a rowdy group of citizens to the tavern, and grabbed a table near the back.

“What do you think of all this, mate?” asked Cain. “You haven’t said much about what happened yesterday…”

“Well, truth be told, I don’t know what to think. I’m sure the Companions will be honored to have you among our ranks, but my gut tells me that everything will be different now, and that you will be destined for much larger things. But my opinion doesn’t matter all that much, friend. How are you holding up?”

Cain shrugged. “I don’t think it’s set in for me yet. There’s so much I don’t know about what’s happened to me, and yet all my thoughts dwell on…something else.”

“Anska?” inquired Athis.

“Mhm,” said Cain. “I just can’t get her out of my mind, and I wish things could have been different. I’ve met a lot of women in my time, Athis, but never anyone quite like her.”

“You’ll come around in time. Eventually, she’ll be naught but a distant memory of the long past. I won’t deny that she was a remarkable woman, and I can see why she has such a hold on you.” He paused to sip his from a tankard of flin before continuing on. “This next bit of advice may seem harsh, Cain, but you would do well to forget about her sooner, rather than later. You’ll need a clear mind and razor-sharp focus for the path that lies ahead.”

“There’s truth in your words, even if I don’t like it,” acknowledged Cain. “Look, I think I’m going turn in for the night. See you in the morning, yeah?”
Athis raised his tankard in agreement and downed the remainder of its contents. “Me, too. We’ll head for the stables at dawn.”

Cain tossed and turned for a long while after he extinguished the candles in his room and crawled into the plush bed and soft linens. The young man’s thoughts were filled with images of dragons, blazing fires, and missed opportunities. When he finally did fall asleep, it was a fitful slumber that was no better than the half-awake state he had been in before, but it did leave him with a sense of alertness that roused him the moment his door slipped open. He reached for the dagger on his bedside table, and slipped it under his pillow in case the intruder meant to do him harm.

He was relieved when the husky voice of Athis whisper from nearby. “Cain, are you awake?”

“I am,” came the quiet reply. “What’s the matter?”

“There are strange men filing into the tavern, and more of them out in the streets. I’m not sure what their purpose is, but I saw them accosting the barkeep. They held up a piece of paper to Corpulus - I couldn’t make out what was on it and something feels wrong about it all...”

“Well, if there are that many then we can’t hope to fight our way out of here. Too many innocent bystanders downstairs that could get hurt or killed. I think we’re going to have along with them, Athis… Stash a dagger wherever you can and don’t resist them.”

They stowed their bags away and each picked out a slim dagger that could easily be hidden, and slid them into their boots. Moments later, the door to Cain’s room burst open and five burly men with kerchiefs obscuring their faces rushed into the room, ropes and blindfolds at the ready. Cain and Athis did as instructed and were soon being led downstairs to the inn’s cellar and storage larders. A loud creaking noise echoed around them as a gate clattered open and the men pushed them onwards.

Wondering where they could possible going, Cain risked a whisper to his friend. “Is it just me or the air getting stale? Are there passages beneath the city?”'

“Maybe,” Athis whispered back. “Sewers and catacombs are more likely �" they may know a way out beyond the walls if that’s the case.”
“Be quiet back there!” shouted one of the men. “No talking unless I say so!”

On and on they went, further and further through damp tunnels and iron gates, never speaking, and wholly unable to reach the short knives stashed away in their boots. After what felt like an hour of walking silently down winding corridors, they came to the foot of a staircase, and haphazardly began to climb it single file, tying not to trip over their own feet.

A final iron gate clanked open, and the men ushered Cain and Athis into a much warmer room, filled with a fragrance that Cain couldn’t quite place. Then he felt the bindings on his hands loosen and the blindfold was suddenly being removed from their faces, the bright lights of numerous torches and braziers blinding their eyes after the long march in the dark.

He gasped at the scene before him, as Athis muttered something indiscernible under his breath.

This post has been edited by Kane: Jan 8 2025, 06:11 PM